who’s greg

Initially, I assumed this was a traditional Märzen. This “Octoberfest” from Harpoon is not a true Märsen actually a American Amber… still has a very familiar ABV of 5.50%.

Pours out a dark umber, with a nice off-white/cream head that holds a very yeasty appearance for several minutes. The lacing is very present throughout the glass, never leaving.

I found this scent confusing at first. Nicole pointed out the floral notes that get me back on track, the hops are there. The yeast from the lacing stays and adds to the flavor of the beer. Slightly malty as well.

Very good beer. I love the aftertaste and mouthfeel. The carbonation here is done just right. Very light and crisp hoppiness that I always like. Being a fan of Ambers, its no wonder that I find this tasty.

I like it. This was a real learning experience for me. At first, I was really excited about how well received this beer was in its category, but learning its not a true märzen threw me for a curve. Still in all, i dig it.

Best domestic Octoberfest of the bunch. Very drinkable. A case of this might find its way into my mouth in the very near future. If this was a true Oktoberfest Märsen then it would get a higher grade…

A-

Post Road Pumpkin Ale comes from Boston Brewery. 5.00% ABV.

This last pumpkin ale poured out a rich, light copper color with almost no bubble trails. The bready looking head retains well leaving thick lacing behind. The smell is faint spice with the malt showing through. Nutmeg mostly. Some allspice but all of it is really muted.

The taste is surprising. This is one pumpkin ale that is more ale than pumpkin. I’m not sure what to make of that fact. It seems like something that could go either really well or end up as a cold glass of fail. They succeed for me.

Nicole finds the finish to be pleasantly spicy. Doesn’t coat the mouth in a bad way. The slight carbonation is refreshing but not overstated. Really drinkable beer.

Definately fares better than the Oktoberfest reviewed earlier…

Nicole liked it. I liked it. It isn’t as forward as the Screamin’ Pumpkin Spice Ale but that isn’t a bad thing. Two different beers, the same yet different.

B+

From the “mistake on the lake” comes the Great Lakes Oktoberfest. APV is a top number for the night at 6.00%

The beer pours out a golden copper, lighter than other in the same style. The head is again foamy and light. It drops quick and leaves most lace on the edge. Some across the top as well.

Smells slightly sweet, but still very malty. There is a sour quality to it that confuses me. 3222

The taste is nice. Light but still malty, very toasted. Slightly nutty even. Sweeter than i like for the style.

The mouthfeel is the final nail here. It has a nice dryness that has hoppy overtones. I lilke it. Seems more of a mature beer. But at the same time… the mouthfeel is severe enough that it might put some off.

Tough call here. I like the structure and complexity but it lacks a smoothness that would put it over the top.

B-

This is a beer made by Coors – so I’ve got predisposed opinions. But… Nicole does like the Blue Moon so i figured it was worth a try. Coming at 5.60% APV.

The pour is usual. Copper brown and topped by a bready looking fluffy head. Smells faintly of spice, no real pumpkin to be found. The had drops leaving lacing both above and around the surface.

Smells like spice, but muted. The notes of clove are faint and there is something unusual as well. like lettuce. I might be drunk but this just taste that great. i think the vegatal smell is just too much for me to get past.

The taste is slightly sweet, with more acidity than expected. This might be carbonation but I’m not sure. The spice is mostly cinnamon but not much pumpkin to speak of… not as sweet as the rest in this category.

eh, not impressive. I’d probably look to spend more on a better tasting beer. Nicole will have to get over it.

D

This is another brewery that I suppose instills a natural confidence in my mind. The Brooklyn Brewery is making an medicore Oktoberfest. 5.50 APV

Pours out as a light caramel copper and the usual bready head that I’ve seen all night. The head drops within minutes and leaves a respectable lacing across the surface. Eventually, it retreats all together.

Smells of malt and bread. Not at all like other Märzens. Light on the nose and nothing at all like I’d except from the BBC. The scent is almost gone in 15 minutes. No smell what so ever…

I like the taste well enough. It has a dryness that make me think “good hops” but nothing that puckers the lips. But when you inhale as you drink, there is nothing there. With aroma being one half of flavor… this beer falls flat

The mouthfeel is a little weird though. The aftertaste makes you think there is a lot more alcohol that there really is… weird. not that pleasant. The carbonation is also a bit different than I’m used to drinking… more pronounced. buzzy on the lips is the best way I can describe it.

Decent taste but not really worth another try.. I wouldn’t go out of my way for it. The grade is half taste, half disappointment.

C+

Pumpkin Ale from the Michigan Brewing Company. Pours out at a 6.00% APV.

The beer looks good, clear and copper in color with a decent head that brings zero retention. The lacing is thick to the edges and light across the surface. The smell is very defined. Not over powering but definite. Pumpkin and allspice i think. faintly malty and a little bread-ish…

The taste is sweet, but then I have a well-documented ‘tooth’ as it were. I love this beer. I will admit that it lacks even more of the nuanced subtlety than I wrote about in other reviews. This beer makes mo apologies for what it is… A pumpkin infused, spice delight. the spices are there. The pumpkin is there,

Mouthfeel is distant, almost non-existant. It just barely coats the cheeks and leaves you able to drink more. I like that. Some of the more highly stylized beers like these tend to be more one offs for me. I like one – but I wouldn’t want to drink ten. This beer is an exception to that rule.

Wow, as good as I thought the Jack’s was… this is better. Its like a great autumn/fall desert beer – yet highly drinkable. Session beer for the style for sure. If I can find this in a case… Nicole will be drinking this for sure. I wish there was a grade between A and A+…

A

This is the first Oktoberfest-märzen of the night that is actually brewed in Germany. This beer from Hacker-Pschorr Bräu GmbH is coming in at 5.80% APV. From what I can research… this is the year-round ‘Original Ocktoberfest’ and not the seasonal Oktoberfest-Märzen.

The beer pours a nice clear copper brown, with a nice creamy toatsted head that fades as fast as it impresses. The lacing is almost zero… but then I’ve poured 5 other beers into this glass so who can say.

The smell is malty and caramel, nice and light. Smells good but very faint. The real treat here is the taste… oh this is good.

Its the cleanest and most drinkable German beer I can remember. Its a little nutty and the caramel is not over-powering. The hops impart a nice crispeness without drying out my mouth too much. Goes down easy. And makes me want another…

I could drink a hundred of these. Not all at one time… but you get the point. This is the best I’ve had that night…

A-

This beer comes from Michelob/Anheuser-Busch and therefore… i am not too optimistic. Coming in at 5.50% APV… so off we go.

The color is a rich copper and the head is very light. High but light. It drops soon and leaves a nice medioum lace all the way across the top. and it stays. The smell is very good actually. Surprisingly spicy and sweet but… something else – not sure, metallic maybe. Its a little off-putting but most people don’t linger with their nose buried in the beer so you might even miss it.

The beer is carbonated well, and it doesn’t coat my mouth a ton. It lingers but in a not so bad kind of way. The taste is… well, not too shabby. The spice is up front and the pumpkin is not overly sweet. The cinnamon is most forward, along with the clove. I gotta admit… i like it. its probably not as nuanced and balanced as many better peers in this style… but its a damn good one.

I enjoy it. I will say – brewery be damned. It is spicy and sweet in a pleasant way. A case would last awhile – its not the type to be pounded one after another.

B+

I’ve been growing into a Sam adam’s fan for a little while now, and this beer will go far in further that admiration. The self-proclaimed “largest selling Octoberfest beer outside Germany” might be that for a reason. The beer here comes in at 5.70% APV…

The beer pours a golden cooper color with an aggressive, big head. Perhaps the previous two beers tonight came up short and I am partially to blame for a HUGE head, which… in its defense – dropped quick and moved to the edges with a wispy lace.

The smell is not very prominent but still slightly malty.

The taste is very pleasant, just bordering on very drinkable. The mouthfeel is too much to make it a good autmn session beer. It coats the cheeks. Slightly sweet and a little hint of caramel to make me happy. I likes it.

Great taste, outpaceing many others in this style.

B+